The Cuesta Catalog System is a Web database application created with OpenPages that provides the most comprehensive system for deploying online catalogs on the market today. The OpenPages Catalog System provides:

• a search engine, tuned for fast Internet performance, with flexible category and full-text search;
• navigational elements common to personal computer applications;
• visitor activity tracking and reporting, including products visited, order summary, visitor search preferences, and many other reporting details;
• user registration and demographic reporting;
• secure order processing;
• ease of maintenance and remote updating of data as often as desired;
• transmission of orders to a desired fulfillment location via encrypted e-mail

The Cuesta Catalog system uses the OpenPages Data "Bus" -- a flexible, extensible, modular data interchange mechanism that allows data from any source -- database programs (such as Oracle, FileMaker Pro or Microsoft Access) spreadsheet applications, text files, etc. -- to be used and incorporated into the Web site. This feature makes it easy for Cuesta catalogs to work with virtually any legacy data the company may have.

Add-on components to the Cuesta catalog system include:

1. Administrative module with e-mail broadcast notification

• Provides the company with the ability to send electronic mail to registered users announcing new products, specials, events, newsletters, etc.
• Company representatives can send electronic notices to the entire user list or to a selected subset based on general user database characteristics.

2. Affiliate module

• Allows the host catalog to be "published" to other Web sites.
• Tracks products ordered by affiliate-referred visitors so that the host company can give the affiliate a commission on product sales, if desired.
• When visitors enter the host catalog from the affiliate site, the affiliate site look and feel can be maintained in the host catalog.

What companies like about Cuesta's Web database approach:

• They don't have to alter their 'way' of doing business, managing their data, processing orders, etc. The Cuesta system adapts to their system.
• A virtual firewall exists between the Web data and the data in their office; individuals on the Internet do not have direct access to their data in their office. Corporate data is 100% secure.
• It doesn't require an expensive database -- saves 10's of thousands of dollars.
• The "control point" for their data remains where it is -- in their office.
• They can update and change the data any time they wish, without paying each time, or requiring a programmer to make the change.
• They get very detailed reports of visitor activity at the site.
• It's FAST! - The online database is designed for Web performance; it doesn't require additional steps or overhead to query the data.
• Quick development time.
• Allows them to concentrate on their company business; does not force them into the Web development business.

The typical customer of a Cuesta catalog has the following profile:

• They have a printed catalog or resource guide with hundreds or thousands of products.
• They need a large Web site -- several sections with many pages in each section.
• Their products are typically shipped from a warehouse or order fulfillment center.
• They need to update their catalog data from time to time.
• They want their Web site to complement and enhance their business model instead of forcing them to change the way they work.
• They don't want the cost, hassle or responsibility of setting up or hosting the site.
• They may want to design the site themselves or hire a third party to design it.
• They want to concentrate on the design and content of the site and don't want to worry about technical aspects such as creating navigational menus or maintaining the software that "runs" the site.
• They have a budget of $20,000 and up for the project plus ongoing hosting and maintenance fees.